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Colonies in the Wilderness
Chapter 1 Intro
Canada, 1791• In 1791, Britain
controlled modern-day Canada.
• There were five separate colonies.
• Colonies: – Nova Scotia– New Brunswick– Newfoundland,– Upper Canada– Lower Canada.
Canada, 1791
• The Hudson Bay Company (HBC) controlled much of the rest of the country.– Their area was called Rupert’s Land.
– While the Pacific Coast (B.C.) was desired by a number of different countries.
The HBC
• The HBC company was the largest fur trading company and held a monopoly on the fur trade (established in 1670).– This means they had the exclusive right to trade
furs in their territory and that they could punish anyone found trading in their region.
• Other fur trading companies existed and tried to break the monopoly.– Such as the North West Company (established in
1793).
Upper Canada/Lower Canada
• Upper Canada– What is now southern Ontario.
• Lower Canada– What is now Quebec along the St. Lawrence River.
Upper Canada/ Lower Canada
• Upper Canada was English.
• Lower Canada was French.
• This would start to cause problems.
Immigration• After the War of 1812 many immigrants from the US
and Europe arrived in Upper Canada to take advantage of the cheap land.
• In Lower Canada and the Maritime provinces ties with Britain and New England helped the population grow.
• Most immigrants did not try and settle in the west because that land was reserved for the Fur Trade.
Loyalists and the USA• Americans who did not support the American
Revolution and who remained loyal to Britain were called loyalists.– Many of these loyalists settled in Canada.
• At this time, many people viewed the United States as a possible enemy of Canada.– Remember Canada was invaded during the
American Revolution and the War of 1812.– The Americans believed in “Manifest Destiny”—
that it was their God-given right to own all of North America.
Upper Canada• Upper Canada was the most underdeveloped and newest
colony in British North America.
• Transportation was difficult with few roads, most just being tracks through the bush.
• Most of the land was covered with forest.
• Life was difficult and hard.
– Settlers had to clear their land before they could start growing crops.
Clearing Land
Upper Canada
Upper Canada• It took years to raise a crop that would produce extra.– Most crop leftovers were used to pay off debt .
• Many settlers mortgaged their crops to get supplies.– This means to use their crops as a security on a
loan.– They would promise to give some of their crops in
return for supplies.
Barter Economy• Today, we live in a money economy.
• But, in the past a barter economy was used.– This means an economy that works by trading
of products or services.– For example: A farmer could pay a blacksmith
with wheat for his services.
• Bartering was an efficient system because prices for products and services were fixed.
The Importance of Social Class
• In Britain social class was extremely important.
• Many British immigrants wanted to re-create the British class system in Canada.
• However, many found it challenging because settling the land was a lot of work.– People had to rely on their neighbours to help them
regardless of their social class.
Textbook Questions
• The Problem of land in Upper Canada– Read in your textbook about how land was
starting to create problems for residents
The Family Compact
• One group in Upper Canada was successful in setting up a social class.– The Family Compact.
• The Family Compact was a group of officials who helped run Upper Canada.
• They were descendents of Loyalist settlers and saw themselves as superior to others.
The Problem of Land• Most settlers had come to Canada because
they had believed they could get good, cheap land with easy access to towns and markets.
• But, restrictions on the land and a lack of roads caused problems for many.
The Problem of Land
• Much of the good land was taken by absentee land owners and speculators.
• Many members of the Family compact were land speculators and took advantage of the situation.– They would buy good land cheap and keep it off the
market. – Then when it was in high demand they would sell it
at high prices to make a profit.
Clergy and Crown Reserves• Clergy and crown reserves were
land set aside to provide income (through sale or rent) for the Anglican Church or the government.– Clergy Reserves: Anglican Church– Crown Reserves: Government of
Upper Canada
• These reserves made up 2/7ths of all the land in Upper Canada and for the most part were not used.
Clergy and Crown Reserves
• They were scattered through the settlements and because they were not cleared they blocked road development .
• This caused much frustration among settlers.
The Role of British Government• The ruling elite of Upper Canada wanted to
duplicate the English model of landowning.
• This system allowed most of the land to be owned by aristocrats (upper class).
• It was believed that the aristocrats could do the best job at ruling the country.
• It was also thought that these aristocrats would remain loyal to Britain.
The Role of British Government
• Many immigrant farmers disagreed with this idea.
• These people held republican views and believed the current system was discriminatory and anti-democratic.
• Their feelings were completely true—Britain did not want to allow her colonies in British North American to adopt American attitudes because then the colonies might rebel like the USA had done.
